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Weekend Soccer – By Chris.

The Premiership

Aston Villa   -   Newcastle         1.89  -  4.75
Villa boss, Martin O'Neill, was not happy with his players after their surprising defeat against Fulham. There are always two versions after a match and maybe the energetic Fulham players stopped Villa from playing their best football. The best Villa player, Agbonlahor, is a major injury doubt for this match but A Young will be back from his suspension. Agbonlahor could not play for England in midweek, a big set back for him personally and I wonder if he will recover in time for this match.

O Martins, Faye and Beye, Newcastle’s African players are back from Ghana but according to reports Martins is struggling with some kind of injury and he will no be involved this weekend while N'Zogbia sits out a suspension. With Martins available again Keegan would have had all his strikers at his disposal, including fit again Viduka. When Keegan last managed Newcastle he had a certain Les Ferdinand up front and the way I see it, Newcastle need a new Ferdinand, a big, strong player in the penalty area. Newcastle at the moment are a very "smallish " side with no height. I do not want this 1.89 on the home win, especially if Agbonlahor will be missing. Away win? No, I do not think so. No bet.

Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 1

Bolton   -   Portsmouth        2.60  -   2.95
Three games in a row and no goals conceded by Bolton. Definitely a sign of character but then again it has always been a Bolton trade mark to put 100% effort into their games, if nothing else. They won the six pointer game at Reading 2-0 last week and also missed a penalty. G Cahill, the latest signing, had a great game in defence, Helguson scored on his come back and Hadji-Diouf played for some 30 minutes in the second half. Maybe new signing, the Polish striker Rasiak, will get some playing time tomorrow, but I do expect Hadji-Diouf from the start.

J Defoe and M Baros will most likely continue up front for Portsmouth. Benjani has left for Man City and Kanu is not 100% fit after the African Cup. Distin risks missing another game. Diarra had a great game against Chelsea last week, (1-1) and now I know why Wenger wanted him for Arsenal. Bouba Diop and Utaka are available again. Tricky game and I find it hard to see a winner. X2 I guess, but I will settle for the draw (3.25).

Bolton 0 Portsmouth 1

Derby   -   Tottenham         6.30   -   1.60
The recent Derby draws, both 1-1, with M City and Birmingham says probably more about their opponents than about Derby. No real improvement from Derby and it is not likely to happen with their present squad. All their recent signings were in action last week but Ghaly is ineligible for this match with his former club.

Tottenham are in terrific form and I cannot imagine that they will face any major problems against Derby. J Woodgate is out suspended and I should think that Ramos will send out Ledley King again. Away win (1.60).

Derby 0 Tottenham 3

Everton   -   Reading        1.57  -   7.00
The home side will be strengthened by the return of Yakubu and Yobo. In other words Everton will be at full strength apart form the injured Pienaar. No Ingimarsson for Reading. Six losses on the bounce and no goals scored in their last three games. I guess that Reading qualify for the term ‘in free fall’. To spice it up I can always mention their poor away record this season. They are 0-3-9 this far! Backing Everton (1.57).

Everton 1 Reading 0

Middlesbrough   -   Fulham        1.95   -   4.50
With their tall defenders, how could Middlesbrough allow M Owen to score with a header? Quite logical however that Boro (R Huth) scored their goal with a header. Tuncay Sanli remains sidelined but Mido will probably play some part in this match. Their Brazilian striker Afonso Alves will of course make his debut.

First Fulham win for ages last week and new coach Hodgson seems to have a team prepared to work hard for him. That is absolutely vital, but it is also essential to have match winners like J Bullard and B McBride playing again. So Fulham on a mini high at the moment and Boro excited to have Alves making his debut. Fulham and away fixtures, a sad story, but they could get a draw here. 1X, I guess!

Middlesbrough 1 Fulham 0

Sunderland   -   Wigan        2.15   -   3.72
Three straight home wins and 7-1 the goals by Sunderland and no doubt that their players will come full of confidence to this six pointer. Two of these wins have been against bottom of the table rivals, like Wigan tomorrow. No K Richardson for Sunderland, no L Miller either and latest signing Andy Reid is probably not yet ready. Fortunately D Etuhu is back from Ghana and he could replace L Miller on the midfield, joining D Whitehead.

No England place for E Heskey in midweek and he has no more than a 50/50 chance of playing this match.  Marlon King is also a major doubt due to jet lag problems. He is expected back from Jamaica on Friday. M Melchiot limped out of the Dutch midweek game and he also risks missing this important match.  Wigan totally deserved their win against W Ham last week, but Wigan are 1-3-9 away from home and my choice will be the home win for Sunderland (2.15).

Sunderland 2 Wigan 0

West Ham   -   Birmingham          1.88   -   4.80
Excellent win by West Ham against Liverpool followed by a quite poor display at Wigan a couple of days later. That is the way it is  -  it is difficult to maintain your best standard, especially for teams outside the top four, with smaller squads. Both N Solano and C Bellamy were back in action against Wigan and that is fabulous news for the Hammers, to finally have their offensive ace Bellamy playing again. Faubert could be back for this match.

Birmingham threw away important points at home to Derby last week in a match they dominated. Without a win in their last six games, Birmingham are now in the relegation zone with only Fulham and Derby behind them in the table. I am a bit surprised, but failing to win their home fixtures vs. Fulham and Derby means that Birmingham are in the danger zone. They miss the suspended O Kapo this weekend but welcome back Jaidi and Nafti.  1X I should think, but I will be backing the home win (1.88).

West Ham 1 Birmingham 1

Chelsea   -   Liverpool          2.01   -   4.50
Mikel will be back for Chelsea as well as Carvalho. Perhaps a fit again F Lampard will play a part. Liverpool miss the suspended X Alonso and the injured F Torres, Arbeloa, F Aurelio and D Agger.  We will see P Crouch and D Kuyt up front for Liverpool. Big game this one and I guess that we will not see Lucas in the Liverpool starting line up this time. I have no problems at all picking a winner here. Chelsea to win (2.01).

Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0

Manchester Utd    -   Manchester City    1.33  -   12.80
City had one scoring chance in the first encounter between these Manchester sides and it was enough with City winning 1-0. Will City be humiliated this time? Hopefully not, but I would not rule out that possibility. City have been playing rather poorly lately and their players have not always worked as hard as their coach, Sven would want them to. Corluka and Elano are out suspended for this match. At last City have got themselves a danger man, Benjani, and he will make his debut on Sunday. United will miss both Evra and W Rooney to suspensions. Home win, but the odds have destroyed the match from a betting perspective (1.33).

Man Utd 1 Man City 2

Arsenal    -   Blackburn        1.37   -   11.90
With Samba and R Nelsen still missing Blackburn look a bit weak defensively. They were missing last week when Blackburn managed a fortuitous 0-0 draw with Everton. On Sunday Blackburn will also be without the suspended duo D Dunn and Gamst-Pedersen. Mokoena is back from the African Cup.

Arsenal are in excellent shape and they will probably field an unchanged line up for this match with one possible exception. Flamini suffered an injury in midweek and he is in the danger zone of missing this match. He is touch and go. Maybe T Rosicky will return to the squad. Home win, but who cares, when the odds are only 1.37!

Serie A

Atalanta   -  Fiorentina          3.50   -   2.60
Tissone will return for Atalanta but they will be without four players this weekend. Their key player Doni is out suspended as well as Bellini and Guarente. Defender Carozzieri is on their injury list. Atalanta without Doni, usually not a winning combination.

Fiorentina were so unlucky last week losing their match with Milan 0-1, a match dominated by the home side. Well, some bad luck was certainly involved, but some of the home players quite simply threw away excellent scoring chances and that is not only bad luck. Donadel will be back for Fiorentina, maybe Semioli as well, but they have Liverani  on their injury list. Backing the away win (2.60).

Atalanta 2 Fiorentina 2

Roma   -   Reggina        1.22   -   19.00
In all honesty I have seldom been as surprised as last week when I watched Siena completely outplaying Roma, winning  3-0! It could have been more. I have respect for Siena with their constant will to go forward. However, I never thought that Roma would look like any other team, which they did. Coach Spalletti is indicating that he will make one or two changes for this match. Maybe Panucci and Giuly will come in for Casetti and Perrotta.

Reggina will be without the suspended Lanzaro. Amoruso was back last week as well as Hallfredsson, but to no avail, as they lost their home game with Torino 1-3. Roma looking for an improved display. Home win (1.22).

Roma 2 Reggina 0

Milan   -   Siena       1.44   -   11.00
Gattuso, Kaka and Pato are on the injury list but fortunately Milan will have both Ronaldo and Inzaghi at their disposal for this game. Emerson will probably replace Gattuso and Gourcuff will come in for Kaka.

Plenty of outstanding Siena players last week. Jarolim, Codrea and De Ceglie were probably the best of the crop, but also the hard working Maccarone made his tribute. Locatelli, their playmaker, is expected back for this match. Rigano is a doubt and Galloppa is definitely out injured. The odds on the home win have gone up this week. Now 1.44! This has to do with the absence of Kaka of course.  My choice? I happen to like Siena, but it is asking too much to expect point(s) from this fixture.

Milan 1 Sienna 0

Cagliari   -   Parma        2.40   -   3.58
A point away to Juventus and a deserved one, was the latest Cagliari achievement. Not what I expected, although Juventus were missing a couple of players. Biondini  and D Lopez will be back for the home side, but Foggia risks missing the match.

Parma have to do without the suspended Pisanu and the injured Paci. C Lucarelli, of all people, missed a penalty last week when his new club lost to Atalanta, 2-3. I prefer Parma here, but I am well aware of their lousy away record this season (0-3-7). I backed Parma in their last away game at Catania. The match was a drab affair, ending in a 0-0 draw with Parma probably the better side. Anyway, Cagliari really have to attack Parma on Sunday, winning is all that matters. Maybe this will fit Parma this time. I do not know really, but I will choose the away win (3.58).

Cagliari 1 Parma 1

Catania   -   Inter         6.90   -   1.67
Inter have played their last two games down to 10 men for most of the time. Cesar was shown the red card at Udinese and last week while Vieira suffered the same fate at home to Empoli. While Inter deserved their 0-0 draw with Udinese they probably did not deserved the three points against Empoli. Inter had a poor game and must feel grateful to their keeper, J Cesar, who saved a late Empoli penalty. Vieira is suspended this weekend while Stankovic has joined  Samuel, Cordoba and Dacourt on the injury list, but at least Figo is fit at last.

It has been a while since Catania won a match, a league match I mean, because they did me proud last week when they just about defeated a depleted Udinese side in the cup. Questionable looking Catania form I would suggest, but I also have my doubts concerning the present Inter form. Colucci will replace Martinez up front joining Spinesi and Mascara. I guess that Inter will not lose this match. X2 then.

Catania 0 Inter 2

Empoli   -   Lazio        3.16    -   2.65
The art of scoring goals is something Empoli certainly have lost. They have only produced 15 goals in twenty one Serie A games. As I just pointed out above, they missed a late penalty last week away to Inter. Sounds like Marchisio could be back for Empoli.

Lazio will be without the suspended Mudingayi and they still have some four or five players on the injury list. Bianchi will be back from his suspension and he will probably start this match alongside Rocchi. Rozehnal has joined from Newcastle and he will be one of the four Lazio defenders. Empoli have drawn 50% of their home games and Lazio have drawn 60% of their away fixtures. In other words, the 2.90 offered on the draw must be considered an over price. X2 is my standpoint.

Empoli 1 Lazio 0

Livorno   -   Genoa         2.40   -   3.73
Livorno also missed a penalty last week, late in the first half at Palermo, with the score line still 0-0. It proved costly with Palermo winning the match 1-0. Giannichedda, Volpe and Bergvold remain sidelined and this time Livorno also will be without the suspended Vidigal. Expect the usual 3-5-2 combination with Tavano joined by Tristan this time in the front line. Bogdani on the bench.

Leon remains out of action for Genoa. Figueroa and Borriello will start up front. Livorno have not done anything wrong lately but they are on a losing run. Maybe only some kind of reaction. I was more surprised to see their previous unbeaten nine game streak. Maybe the value is on the home win (2.40).

Livorno 1 Genoa 1

Sampdoria  -   Napoli         1.97  -   4.85
Sampdoria have been a terrific home side this season. They are 6-3-1 so far at their own place. One of their best players, Volpi, will be missing this weekend as well as Lucchini. Montella and Sammarco.

Napoli will be without the suspended defender Cannavaro. Savini, Iezzo and Domizzi are still on their injury list. Lavezzi was in fantastic form last week, scoring two goals for Napoli against Udinese. This young Argentinian striker is a real gem, but my choice in this fixture will nevertheless be the home win (1.97), with Cassano deciding the match for Sampdoria.

Sampdoria 2 Napoli 1

Torino   -   Palermo         2.55   -   3.25
First win for ages for Torino last week, away to Reggina (3-1). Rosina scored twice and with him back in the line up I am sure that every Torino supporter have hopes for a better future, including under pressure coach Novelllino. Natali will be missing this time due to a suspension but Recoba is back to fitness.

Palermo only will be without the suspended defender Zaccardo. Cassani will be his replacement. I backed Palermo last week at home to Livorno, but I needed a penalty miss from Livorno to make my bet safe after the 90 minutes. I guess that Palermo, despite everything, deserved their 1-0 win but still something is missing. Palermo are stronger than Torino, but I could say that about several of the recent Palermo opponents but they nevertheless manage to come out on the losing side. Some goals perhaps, why not a 2-2 draw?

Torino 3 Palermo 1

Udinese   -   Juventus          3.42   -   2.50
Maybe I am is slightly disappointed with Udinese. Their last two home games have been against the two Milano sides, Milan and Inter, with Udinese failing to score in both those matches. I thought it was time for some new kind of breakthrough for the club, with both the Italian internationals Quagliarella and Di Natale in the squad, but I was wrong. On Sunday Udinese will be without the suspended Pepe and Felipe and the injured Obodo, Mesto and Pinzi. Still no Asamoah. Ferronetti, Coda and Floro Flores will all play from the start.

Camoranesi is expected to play from the start for Juventus, Sissoko as well. Trezeguet will hopefully be fit, but Stendardo, Chiellini and Andrade will be missing again. Buffon could be back, at least on the bench. Plenty of games lately for Juventus and they have suffered. It became obvious last week when they only managed a 1-1 draw with Cagliari. Quieter week this one. Udinese have failed to win this fixture in modern times (0-5-5). Sorry, no bet!

Udinese 1 Juventus 2

The Championship

Leicester  -  Plymouth        2.20   -   3.30
I watched Leicester defeat C Palace recently on a heavy, wet and very bumpy home surface. The Leicester players worked extremely hard and they gave the more creative C P players basically no time to play their brand of football. I thought then that this Leicester side will not drop many home points. For this match Leicester will be without the suspended defender R Stearman. Chance for J Clapham, their latest signing, to make his debut in the Leicester defence.

Plymouth remain winless in 2008. No wonder as key players like D Norris, Ebanks-Blake, Gosling and Buzsaky have left the club. At the moment they have acute scoring problems, but it is bound to change. MacLean and R Fallon should not be that bad. New defender J Paterson might make his debut for the club this weekend.  The present Leicester manager Holloway left Plymouth only a short while ago and he is of course familiar with most of the Plymouth players. Big game in other words and I definitely will be backing the home win (2.20).

Leicester 0 Plymouth 1

Sheffield Utd    -   Scunthorpe        1.75   -   5.00
Must win game for S United if they still have any dreams of the play offs. Admittedly backing S United this season has been extremely costly for punters all over the world and no doubt that coach Robson must be a favourite of all the bookmakers. Last week J Beattie, their leading striker, made his long awaited come back in the second half at Colchester (2-2). Latest signings Speed, Ehiogu and L Martin all played from the start and what we got right now is the strongest S United side.

Scunthorpe will be missing their best striker M Paterson (12 goals) and A Butler, both suspended. G Horsfield, the veteran striker, had a good first game for the club last week and he will lead the offensive line again. Supporting the home win (1.75).

Sheffield 0 Scunthorpe 0

Ipswich   -   Watford          2.38   -   3.05
I like to support the footballing side, Ipswich (2.38). Long ball Watford have their supporters, but not this writer. No denying however, their efficiency in the Championship. Their latest signing L Bromby made his debut last week. He is mostly known for his incredible long throw ins, so now you know. Should fill in nicely in the Watford squad. D Shittu has come back from Africa, but Watford miss the suspended McAnuff and L Williamson.

A Quinn and D Norris, the latest Ipswich signings both started on the Ipswich midfield last week when the club managed its first away win. Quinn was one of their scorers. Alan Lee is favourite to start up front tomorrow. If you did not already know, Ipswich are unbeaten at Portman Road this season (11-4-0). Backing the home win (2.38).

Ipswich 1 Watford 2

La Liga

Sevilla   -  Barcelona         2.90   -   2.55
My choice here will be the home win (2.90). With Kanoute and Keita back in the home side they will be able to field their strongest side against Barcelona. OK, Crespo and Mosquera will not be available but their absence is definitely not the end of the world. Both the Copa del Rey fixtures between these sides ended in draws, 1-1 in Sevilla and 0-0 in Barcelona, with Barca advancing on the away goal rule. Kanoute and Keita had already left for the African Cup, but Eto'o took part in the first leg for his Barcelona.

Zambrotta Puyol and Bojan will be missing for Barcelona and could be that Oleuger will get a starting role in defence. Both Ronaldinho and Edmilson will be available. Barcelona are not the exciting Barca these days, but  their overall defensive display has improved a lot lately. My feeling is that Sevilla will offer a great performance this weekend. Enough to win this match (2.90).

Sevilla 1 Barcelona 1

Valencia   -  Real Betis         1.80   -  5.10
Incredibly important win for Valencia away to Valladolid last week (2-0). They were put under pressure in the first half but survived and they took their chances well in the second half. Losing 2-3 away to A Madrid before that was probably also a sign of improvement, as they advanced to the cup semi final, by scoring these two away goals. D Silva is back for Valencia, but still missing are Vicente, Morientes and Baraja. Angulo could be on his way back. It looks like the Valencia profile has found a way back to Koeman's squad. 

Betis will be without the suspended Melli. With striker Pavone a serious injury doubt Edu could be used as the lone striker on Sunday. Betis lost deservedly their home game with La Coruna at the weekend. Betis never liked this trip to Valencia. All they have achieved during these last fifteen years are three draws altogether. Home win (1.80).

Valencia 3 Real Betis 1

Racing Santander   -  Atletico Madrid        2.50   -   3.00
I like to think that the successful Racing saga will go on (2.50). They were not at their best last week when they drew their away game with Levante (1-1). Racing have played twice a week lately, cup and league games, and maybe their players were a bit worn out against Levante. Better this weekend with no midweek matches for Racing. Garay, their best player, will be back for this match as well as Jordi.

Atletico miss L Franco, Ze Castro, Jurado, Seitaridis and Varela with Motta, Kun Aguero and Eller all major doubts. They are doing everything they can to get Aguero fit in time for the match, but it is a match against the clock. Mista and Reyes should be available. Racing are 6-3-1 at home and Atletico have a dip in in form at the moment. The home win is worth backing (2.50).

Racing Santander 0 Atletico Madrid 2

French league

Valenciennes   -  Lorient         2.20   -   4.00
January was a terrible month for Valenciennes. They lost five of their six matches, including their first home loss of the season. The main reason was defensive unrest, due to missing regulars of course. Both Quaddou and Rippert will be back strengthening the home defence tomorrow. Still missing are Chelle, Sanchez and Mater.

Lorient will be without Marchal, Morel, Boutriche and Jallet. Their striker Saifi failed a fitness test today and he is also out of this match, with Bourhani his replacement. Ewolo is back. Valenciennes are a formidable home side (8-2-1) and surely 2.20 is too good to be true.  Lorient have won one away game so far.Home win!

Valenciennes 3 Lorient 0

Rennes   -   Auxerre           2.00   -   4.35
In support of the home win here (2.00). Br Cheyrou and Echiejile will be back for the home side but there is no guarantee that they will put Dembele and Danze out of  work. Didot will probably start on the bench again. Impressive offensive artillery for Rennes, at least on paper, with Wiltord, Pagis, Briand and Thomert going forward. M'Bia and Mensah are still in Ghana and Leroy is out injured.

Auxerre will be without a trio of players, Jelen, T Kahlenberg and Mignot. Maybe four as their keeper Sorin is struggling. S Traore is back from Africa. Auxerre disappoint regularly on their road trips (1-3-7) and I will oppose the club tomorrow (2.00).

Rennes 1 Auxerre 2

Strasbourg   -   St Etienne         2.25  -   3.65
Opposing the poor travellers from St Etienne (2.25). They are even worse than Auxerre on their travels. St Etienne will be without several regulars tomorrow. Dabo, Landrin, Nivaldo, L Perrin, Janot and Tiene will all be missing for this match. Feindonou has just returned from Ghana and I take it for granted that he will be involved tomorrow, although it has not been confirmed. Sall is also available again.

Strasbourg played a terrible cup game last week, losing 0-3 to Metz. They should be out to improve on that result tomorrow. They will be missing Bellaid and Mouloungui is a major injury doubt. Mulenga is back from Ghana and Renteria should be back from Uruguay today. He could be rested. G Paisley, Cohade and Rodrigo will all be available. Backing Strasbourg (2.25).

Strasbourg 3 St. Etienne 0

Nice   -   Marseille        2.55  -  3.00
Sensational Nice season this far and a place in the Champions League is within reach. At home they are 7-4-0 and they will get my support in this match (2.55). Fantastic odds as it is not like they have stolen their home points. Their captain Echoufani returns from his suspension but veteran striker Laslandes is an injury doubt.

Marseille have woken up from their slumber but they have yet to impress in their away games. OK, they managed a 1-1 draw away at Nancy in their latest away game, but they had all the luck in the world. Cisse has found the goal again. I do not know if it had anything to do with the absence of Niang. Anyway, leading striker Niang is back again as well as Taiwo. The Marseille play maker Nasri is in danger of missing this derby game. I am behind the Nice home win (2.55).

Nice 0 Marseille 2

Chris.